From August 31 to September 1, a summer retreat was held in St. Louis, Missouri. The retreat was centered around Galatians 6:14, which states, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” During the retreat, participants had the opportunity to deeply study and reflect on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
On the opening day, Pastor Mark delivered a sermon based on Galatians 3:1-5, urging the congregation to never lose sight of the cross and to make it the center of their lives. In the book of Galatians, Paul rebukes the Galatian believers for losing focus on the cross and returning to legalism. Paul strongly emphasizes that the image of Christ crucified is the true essence of the gospel, and when we lose sight of the cross, we are drawn toward the desires of the flesh and become spiritually foolish. Pastor Mark applied this warning to modern believers, stressing that without focusing on the cross, we risk spiritual death and distraction by worldly things.
He also reminded the attendees of the central truth that Jesus Christ was crucified for us, and this sacrifice empowers us. The most important thing to remember is that if we lose sight of the cross, we will inevitably focus on the flesh. To make the cross truly effective in our lives, we must follow Jesus. As Matthew 16:24 says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” While it may be easy to say no to others, it is far more challenging to deny ourselves. Often, we want to follow our own desires, but we must learn to say no to ourselves. Sometimes, when Jesus calls us to act, we hesitate or refuse. But the call is clear: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. If we want the power of the cross to manifest in our lives, we must carry our cross daily.
The three-day retreat featured various speakers, Bible studies, prayer meetings, worship services, and a children’s retreat. The church members had a blessed time of spiritual growth and rich fellowship.
Through this summer retreat, many participants rediscovered the profound teachings of Galatians and were reminded of the importance of standing before the cross. This event is expected to serve as a foundation for the local church community to grow in faith and unity.